Widener registers as lobbyist

Former state senator Chris Widener, a Springfield Republican, is now registered as a lobbyist for Central State University, according to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee website.

There is no revolving door prohibition for former lawmakers that would make them wait a year or two after leaving office before they can lobby their former colleagues. Widener registered that he would lobby both the legislative and executive branches for Central State, his only client at this point.

Widener abruptly announced in January that he would step down Jan. 31 and the next day Central State announced it hired Widener as a consultant for $6,000 a month.

Widener, who signed the agreement with Central State on behalf of Achieve Strategy Group LLC, will advise Central State University President Cynthia Hammond on everything from college affordability to graduation rates to campus diversity. The 12-month consulting job runs from Feb. 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2017.